HELP with e36 M-sport steering wheel

[roznic]

This issue is not for e30, but for my 97 e36 m3 that came with 3 spoke M-sport wheel and air bag of course.
I got freshly wrapped wheel(3 spoke) to replace the old one. My wheel has a slip ring but the one I got looks like came off e38 or e39 that don't have slip rings, it just has straight connecting wire. Can I just use the connecting wire from e38 or e39 for everything to function properly on the 97 e36 m3??
Please chime in who has run into this or knows about slip rings and stuff.
Thx a bunch!!

[roznic]

Here is the back of both wheels. One on the left is mine original and on the right is a new one

[roznic]

Anyone can shine any light on this? ;-(

[mtech325]

The new wheel you have is from a dual stage airbag e39 or e38, which is why the slipring won't bolt up right. You probably don't want to get into splicing wires and such. The wheel you would need should come from an e36 or 3/99 or earlier e39 car. Most of the slip rings are interchangeable. That way it'll have the same slip ring assembly like the wheel you've got on the existing e36 wheel. For example, the 4 spoke e36 wheel slip ring bolts up to the euro e36 3 spoke wheel (this is what I did), but double check part numbers as the US 3 spoke had a different part number last I checked. Sucks since you have a pretty nice looking wheel there!

Check out this link, helped me identify the differences:

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1491928-pics-of-single-and-dual-stage-airbags-steering-wheel

[roznic]

The new wheel you have is from a dual stage airbag e39 or e38, which is why the slipring won't bolt up right. You probably don't want to get into splicing wires and such. The wheel you would need should come from an e36 or 3/99 or earlier e39 car. Most of the slip rings are interchangeable. That way it'll have the same slip ring assembly like the wheel you've got on the existing e36 wheel. For example, the 4 spoke e36 wheel slip ring bolts up to the euro e36 3 spoke wheel (this is what I did), but double check part numbers as the US 3 spoke had a different part number last I checked. Sucks since you have a pretty nice looking wheel there!

Check out this link, helped me identify the differences:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...steering-wheel

Thank you so much for the info, much appreciated!
So looks like there is no way to make it work, how about if I get an airbag from a dual stage wheel with its wiring??

[mtech325]

You can wire it up, but probably more trouble than it's worth. Then again I'm kind of afraid of electrical splicing and such. I've seen e46 steering wheels mounted on e36's including the airbag, but I'm not sure how well it turned out in terms of actually working properly. Perhaps take your existing wheel and have it reupholstered and sell the one you bought. That way everything is plug and play, and reversible if you need to go back in there later for some reason or another. Just my

--Joey

[roznic]

You can wire it up, but probably more trouble than it's worth. Then again I'm kind of afraid of electrical splicing and such. I've seen e46 steering wheels mounted on e36's including the airbag, but I'm not sure how well it turned out in terms of actually working properly. Perhaps take your existing wheel and have it reupholstered and sell the one you bought. That way everything is plug and play, and reversible if you need to go back in there later for some reason or another. Just my

--Joey

no, don't wanna mess with airbag wiring either.. thx anyway!

[roznic]

anybody else?

[roznic]

Bump??

[roznic]

Does anybody else knows about this before I try to return it?? It's a damn fine wheel..;-(

[roznic]

I guess gotta return it or maybe somebody interested with e38/9 ??

[reelizmpro]

Hmmmm I have an early E39 so I'd be interested in your old wheel. what's the matter with it?

[roznic]

Old one is off e36 and it's not for sale as I don't have a substitute

[roznic]

anybody interested in e39 wheel??